Litnet

How do we celebrate Heritage Day (24 September) in an unsettled time? In the face of a pandemic, ideas of identity seem as superfluous and dangerous as flames on Braai Day. Simon van Schalkwyk’s debut collection, Transcontinental delay, is the most fitting recommendation in Heritage Month.

The shortlist for the 2021 Kendeka Prize for African Literature has been announced today.

Damon Galgut's latest novel, The Promise, has been shortlisted for one of the world's most prestigious literary prizes, the Booker Prize. The announcement was made during an online event on Tuesday evening.

The University of Johannesburg is pleased to announce the winners of the following three newly instated prizes: UJ Prize for Creative Writing in isiZulu, UJ Prize for Creative Writing in Sesotho sa Leboa and the UJ Prize for Literary Translation.

"Whether Jennings’ name appears on the shortlist that will be announced in London tomorrow afternoon or not, one can only hope that her longlisting will have changed the trajectory of her career: that she will never again have to make out a case to be published. And never again be published in print runs of only 500."

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is pleased to announce the shortlists for the following three newly instated prizes: UJ Prize for Creative Writing in isiZulu, UJ Prize for Creative Writing in Sesotho sa Leboa, and the UJ Prize for Literary Translation.

"Since the first democratic elections in 1994, no party has held on to the third position in consecutive elections. Smaller political parties have always alternated in this position. Because it has claimed this spot, the only way up for the EFF must be to depose the DA and become the official opposition."

Tracy Going will be in conversation with Terry Angelos on Monday 20 September 2021 at 18:00.

"If you wish to destroy the life you know, expose some corrupt activities."

The longlist for the 2021 Kendeka Prize for African Literature has been announced on Wednesday, the 1^st  of September 2021.

"Compelling and written with tenderness and fury, this beautiful novel will resonate in readers’ minds with its clarity of vision, empathy and depth of insight. It is likely to become a classic for its undeniable literary stature."

"This is a fascinating book. But ultimately it is the victim of its own ego. It attempts too much and provides only a superficial gloss of the events that continue to intrigue and unsettle us as a nation."

In this episode of his monthly podcast David Attwell talks to Margie Orford about crime writing and her Clare Hart series of crime novels, which ended with the publication of Water Music in 2013.

A highly readable, dramatic story of a colourful South African journey in politics lasting over 50 years, from anti-apartheid protester to Right Honourable Lord, from Pretoria childhood to senior British Cabinet Minister.

"Kleynhans researched Hitler’s spies for his PhD thesis, and, as might be expected, he has included a superb bibliography, which will keep serious students of the Second World War history of South Africa reading for years to come."

"Much like a knight errant, the poet is in search of poetry. His life is a quest of refining the technique."

"Noise draws together statistical research to show how skewed judgement can be in fields from criminal justice to medicine, public health to economics, human resources to child protection – and just how rampant the problem is."

"Because everyone had to work from home, men expected to be able to close the door and get online and work without interruptions, while the mothers had to face the expanding care work and interruptions."

Fred Khumalo: "The riskier the choice I make, the more rewarding it is for me as a writer."

Every decision we make is a decision about the future. We constantly make choices that affect the next week, year or decade, but get blinded by what we want or expect the future to be.